Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey
Malory-Anderson Family, Book 1
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by NymphaeaThe exquisite niece of Lord Edward and Lady Charlotte Malory, Regina Ashton is outraged over her abduction by the arrogant, devilishly handsome Nicholas Eden—and is determined to make the rogue pay . . . with his heart.
A golden-haired seducer, Nicholas has been hardened by a painful secret in his past. And now that he has besmirched Reggie’s good name, the hot-tempered lady has vowed to wed him. Her fiery beauty stirs Nicholas as no woman ever has—and the rake arouses Reggie’s passion to an unendurable level. Such uncontrolled desires can lead only to dangerous misunderstandings . . . and, perhaps, to a love that can live only once in a lifetime.
They’ve got one shot at love, but they’ve got to be brave enough to take it.
I read this book because I’ve been on a journey to reconnect with the roots of romance. This book was recommended as part of that journey. The story is constructed well, the characters interesting and the writing moved along quickly. I felt like I was there with the characters and got emotionally involved.
I have to admit I wasn’t a fan of the hero for a long time through this book. He seemed to wallow in his own self-pity and was a typical 1980s romance hero—stubborn, very macho and slow to come around. Once he did, I liked him very much. The heroine was a tad troublesome for me, too, because she’s just as stubborn. I liked the chemistry between them, but I wish they’d have talked a little sooner. Still, the construct of this story and the way it’s an example of it’s time period were great.
If you’re looking for a romance with an extremely slow build, then this might be the one for you. The slow burn and build are right on the mark.
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